Toggle-operated closure fastener



' Dec. 1956 w. F. PUNTE TOGGLE-OPERATED CLOSURE FASTENER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 4, 1953 INVENTOR WILLIAM F. PUNTE mum ATTORNEYS Dec. 4, 1956 w. F. PUNTE 2,772,907

TOGGLE-OPERATED CLOSURE FASTENER I Filed Nov. 4, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 INVENTOR WILLIAM F. PUNTE ATTORNEYS United States Patent 2,772,907 TOGGLE-OPERATED CLOSURE FASTENER William F. Punte, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 4, 1953, Serial No. 390,167

6 Claims. (Cl. 292-25669) The following description relates to an improved container cover with toggle-operated lock. This is a unitary locking closure or cover for a container or drum adapted for quick operation. Shipping containers or drums are usually equipped with an open end and a cover or closure which is sealed over the end. This particular improvement involves forming the cover with unitary means for sealing the cover over the open end of the drum. The sealing means is a part of the cover and applied or removed with the latter. In applying the cover, the lock is secured quickly by a single motion. A reverse movement serves to quickly unlock the cover and permit its removal from the drum. This unlocking movement is effected without the use of tools or forcible manipulation.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide sealing means forming a unitary part of the cover itself.

A further object of the invention is to provide the cover with associated means by which it is securely sealed over the open end of the customary drum.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means. which will mechanically distend that portion of the cover which forms the locking means incidental to the separating movement.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide mechanical means for obtaining maximum security of the cover in the locked position.

The preferred form of the invention is illustrated on the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved container cover in locked position on a metal drum with parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same with the locking device in open position and partly in vertical section;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the cover in locked position;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal section on the line 44 of Fig. l and Fig. 5 is a similar enlarged transverse vertical section on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

For the purpose of illustrating the essential features of the invention, I have shown on the drawings a partial view of the container or drum having the usual open end or top. The improved cover is applied over the top by means which are effective to maintain the locking means in distended or open position so that the cover may be readily placed in position. Continued movement of the operating means serves to contract the locking portion of the cover into a constricted position where it clamps tightly around the drum and is securely held in position until a deliberate opening movement is applied to the fastening device- The container or drum 7 is shown of the usual form in which there is an inwardly directed upper bead 8. Spaced below the bead 8 there is an inward groove 9.

The cover 10 is formed with a peripheral groove 11 extending downwardly. This forms a channel 12 which is 2,772,907 Patented Dec. 4, 1956 adapted to receive a gasket 13 for sealing engagement with the bead 8 of the drum.

The cover has a depending skirt or flange 14 which extends as far as the groove 9. In its usual position, the skirt 14 slopes slightly outward as shown in Fig. 2, to permit easy application and removal of the cover around the drum.

This skirt 14 is slotted vertically at regular intervals to provide a series of tongues 15. The lower ends 16 of the tongues are curled outward to hold a wire or rod.

A flexible wire or rod 17 is gripped loosely by the curled ends 16 of the tongues.

One tongue 18 is shortened by omission of the end 16 to allow clearance for the movement of the ends 19 of the wire 17. Each end of the wire 17 is bent backwardly to form a hook which serves as a pivot. The tongues 15 adjacent the ends 19 have curled ends only at their outer portions. t

A vertical toggle plate 20 is slidably mounted over the cover between the skirt 14 and the groove 11, as shown in Fig. 5. t

The plate 20 is bent inward to provide a top pressure portion 21 from which a depending flange 22 extends to fit within the groove 11.

The outer portion of the plate 20 is slightly offset, as shownin Fig. 5, and carries bearing lugs 23, 23 at opposite corners. r

The center of the "lower edge of the plate 20 has a double cam 24. This cam has opposite directed ends 25, 25, and the cam itself has flaring, curved sides. Shoulders 26, 26 form parts of the ends 25, 25.

Links 27, 27 are pivoted in the bights of the wire ends 19, 19. The opposite free ends of the links 27, 27 are pivoted inithebea'ringlugs 23, 23.

The positions of the parts and their relation when the cover is unlocked is shown in Fig. 2. Here the toggle plate 20 is in spaced position above the cover itself. This brings the links 27, 27 into angular position. At the same time the upward movement of the cam 24 has'spread the pivot ends 19, 19 and caused them to rest upon the shoulders 26, 26. This distends the wire 17. Necessarily the ends 16 of the tongues 15 are spread outward and away from the drum into the position shown in Fig. 2. A slight upward pull on the toggle plate 20 will therefore release the cover from the drum. The cover may thus be lifted manually from the drum without the application of force.

In order to effect a satisfactory sealing of the cover on the drum, the toggle plate 20 is merely pressed downwardly. This forces the ends 19, 19 of the wire above the shoulders 26, 26 and causes them to travel inwardly over the curved side edges of the cam. Finally, the inner ends of the links and the ends 19, 19 come to rest in the position shown in Fig. l, with the ends 19, 19 slightly above the center line of the bearing lugs 23, 23. The result is the formation of a double toggle with the top of the plate 20 resting uon the cover itself.

In the completion of the locking movement, the wire 17 is constricted to bring the tongues 15 into tight engagement with the side of the drum and the ends 16, slightly inside the groove 9.

The single movement of the toggle plate 20 is thus effective for constricting the tongues 15 to seal the cover against the gasket 13. At the same time, the position of the wire 17. and ends 16 in the groove 9 prevents inadvertent unlocking of the cover.

The arrangement above described is a simple and effective means of providing a cover with an attached locking means. The locking movement forms a double toggle which assures the fastening against accidental opening.

A single 'movementof' the latch plate or toggle plate appliessuflicientforce to the-endsof the wireto'distendthe tongues 15, releasing the cover for ready removal.

The invention as described by way of example may be carried out with'minorvaiiations in' details, proportions and material without departing from the invention asdefined in'thefollowing claims.

What' I claim is:

1. A locking cover'for a 'drum or the like'shaving a depending peripheral skirt having spaced= parallel tongues, curled ends for the tongues, a flexible wire held in the said curled ends, the endsof the wire being formed as hooksga toggle-plate overlying the skirt-andhaving a 'depending outwardly offset central portion, laterally :spaced bearings on theplatean'd alinkconnecting each bearing with a hooked end of the wire-inwardly of said offset'central portion.

2. A- locking cover-'for-a drum or the-like having a de pending peripheral "skirt having spaced parallel tongues. curled ends for the tongues, a flex ible wire heldin the said curled ends,'the ends of the wire beingiormed as hooks, said cover being formed with a groove inwardly of its periphery, a toggle-plate overlying' the "skirt, afiange on the plate for entering saidgroove, laterally spaced bearings on the plate and a link connecting each bearing with a hooked end of the wire.

3. A locking cover fora drum or -the likehaving-a depending peripheral skirt having spacedparallel tongues, curled-ends for the tongues a flexible wire held in the said-curled ends, the ends of-- the wire being formed as hooks, a toggle-plate overlying the skirt, laterally-spaced bearings on the plate, a double-facedcamniemberintermediate said bearings, and alinkconnecting eachbearing with a hooked end of'the wire for shiftablecngagement of the said wire hooks'over the-faces of'the .cam.

4. A locking cover for a drum or the like having 'a-depending peripheral skirthaving spaced parallel tongues,

curled ends for the tongues, a ilexible wire held in the said curled ends, the ends of the wire being formed as hooks, atoggle-plateoverlying the skirt, laterally spaced bearings on the plate, a double-faced cam member intermediate said bearings, said cam being wider at the bottom than at the top, and a link connecting each bearing with a hooked end of the wire for shiftable engagement of the said wire hooks over thevfaces ofthe cam.

5. A locking cover for a drum or the like having a depending peripheral skirt having spaced parallel" tongues, curled ends for ttheitongues, .a flexible Wire held in the said curled ends, the ends ofthe Wirebeing formed as hooks, a toggle-plate overlying the skirt, laterally spaced bearings on theplate, a dependent double-faced cam memberintermediate said bearings, said cam diminishing in width upwardly from .belowthedine of'centers of the bearings to a point above said line, and a link connecting each bearing with a hooked end of the wire for shiftable engagement of the said wire hooks over the faces of the cam.

'6. A'locking coverfor a drum, or the like having 21 depending peripheral skirthavingspaced'parallel tongues, curled 'ends'for'the tongues,-'a flexible wireheld in the said curled ends, the ends of the wire being'formed as hooks, a toggle=plate overlying the skirt, laterally spaced hearings on the plate, 'a dependent double-faced cam member intermediate said-bearings, said-cam member being widened at its lower edge andterminating in spaced shouldersfor spreading the hooked 'ends of thewire, and a 'link connecting each bearing with a hooked end of the-wirefor shiftable engagement of 'thesaid-wire hooks toward each other over the faces of the cam.

UNITED STATES PATENTS References Cited in the file of thisipatent 1,132,140 Williams Mar. 16, 1915 2,264,641 Proctor Dec. 2, 1941 

